Korean word

환경오염

Pronunciation

Romanizationhwangyeongoyeom

Meaning

nounenvironmental pollution

Example

우리는 환경오염을 줄이기 위해 재활용을 해야 해요.u ri neun hwan gyeong o yeo meul chu ri gi wi hae chae hwa ryong eul hae ya hae yo

We have to recycle to reduce environmental pollution.

Illustration for 환경오염 (environmental pollution)

More examples

심각한 환경오염 때문에 사람들이 걱정하고 있어요.sim ga kan hwan gyeong o yeom ttae mu ne sa ram deu ri keok jjeong ha go i sseo yo

People are worried because of serious environmental pollution.

Core concept

A harmful buildup of waste or other pollution in the places people and living things depend on.

Common phrases

심각한 환경오염sim ga kan hwan gyeong o yeom
serious environmental pollution
환경오염 문제hwan gyeong o yeom mun je
environmental pollution problem
환경오염을 줄이다hwan gyeong o yeo meul chu ri da
reduce environmental pollution

Similar words

오염oyeom: Harmful contamination that makes air, water, or land unsafe and damages living things.
공해konghae: Pollution caused by industry or daily life that harms people and the natural world.
수질오염sujiroyeom: Pollution that lowers water quality when harmful substances enter rivers, lakes, or seas.
토양오염toyangoyeom: Contamination that makes soil or farmland harmful or unusable when dangerous substances enter it.

Definition in Korean

자연과 사람이 사는 환경이 오염 물질이나 폐기물, 소음·열 등으로 더러워지거나 기능을 잃어 건강과 생태에 해를 주는 상태.cha yeon gwa sa ra mi sa neun hwan gyeong i o yeom mul jji ri na pye gi mul so eum yeol teung eu ro teo reo wo ji geo na ki neung eul i reo keon gang gwa saeng tae e hae reul chu neun sang tae

Word origin

The word combines 환경 (hwangyeong, "environment") with 오염 (oyeom, "pollution"), so its meaning is transparent as pollution affecting the environment.

Usage tips

Unlike a word for a dirty object, this term is useful when discussing damage to shared surroundings, including air, water, land, noise, or heat.

Opposites

환경보호hwangyeongbohoenvironmental protectionnoun
환경정화hwangyeongjeonghwaenvironmental cleanupnoun

Related words

오염물질oyeommuljjilpollutantnoun
오염도oyeomdodegree of pollutionnoun
환경파괴hwangyeongpagoeenvironmental destructionnoun